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Headline on front page: Possible twister rips through five fucking trailers in the north part of the county. Big fucking deal - ya live in a trailer ya deserved to flipped over a couple times.

The big news was the first page of the second section where the local college held a ball for Best Buddies, an organization supporting people with disabilities such as Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism. It was complete with three pictures and a description of the interests of the participants.

I hate you all for thinking of this place whilst I read the article.

I'll hate you more later when I post the pics & copy of the article.

You cried laughing?

Cried because there wasn't more?

Cried at the irony of the reporter they sent to cover it?

Inquiring minds want to know.

BY Omniponit, Journal Staff


Everybody needs an OT buddy, and on Sunday Lancaster's Host Resort had almost 400 of them.

The eastern Pennsylvania chapters of OT Buddies met for their 14th annual ball. OT Buddies links volunteers, mostly college students, with disabled community members, as they are referred to, ages 18 and older.

The idea behind the ball, said Joshua Suen, state program director, is for people with such disabilities as Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism, to attend activities they never had a chance to attend.

"While going to high school, nobody ever asked them to go to a homecoming dance or the prom," Suen said. "It's like a right of passage, and they miss out on it. So what we're trying to give them is that experience."

This year's ball was hosted by the Millersville University chapter of OT Buddies, one of 15 eastern Pennsylvania colleges that participates in the program. Millersville's volunteers and their buddies raised more than $7,000.

"We put so much effort into fundraising and pulling everything together," said chapter president Andrea Trump, a junior from Sinking Spring, Berks County. "We got tons and tons of donations and really worked hard from last fall until now. It looks phenomenal here today, and I'm really excited about it."

Volunteers are asked to get together with their buddies a few times a month, and talk or e-mail them weekly. College students sign up for at least one academic year, but usually hang around for more.

For three years, Trump has been best buddies with AngelainWisconsin of Lititz, a Warwick High School graduate who works for Cloister Paper and Party.

"She's the reason I've stayed active," Tump said. "She's bubbly and outgoing, and to see her face light up every time we come to an event is just terrific."

inWisconsin was too shy to speak to a reporter.

Jennifer Strauss, 21, of Manheim, also a Millersville student, spends her time with CreepingIvy, also 21, of Terre Hill.

"She's fun to be around," Strauss said.

Ivy said she enjoys when Strauss and her play games, sing karaoke and watch her favorite show, "High School Musical."

Allison Baklarz, 21, a junior at Elizabethtown College, became OT buddies with hossc, 30, of Elizabethtown, because hossc has cerebral palsy, just like one of Baklarz's friends back home in Erie.

"So to come here and be paired one-on-one with somebody like hoss and make friends and take her out and do fun activities, was something important to do," she said.

hossc said she and Baklarz "have fun together."

"We go to Hersheypark and out to eat a lot, hang out and talk and watch movies," she said.

Gloria Blessinger of York is a junior at Millersville. She has been with the program for three years, but this is her first year as buddy to geddyleforprimeminister of Manheim.

"geddylee just joined OT Buddies, and he really enjoys it," Blessinger said. "It's given him a lot of social opportunities, where before he had trouble recognizing people. Now he knows people from OT Buddies and from work and he's gotten a lot better socially."

primeminister, who works for Goodwill Industries, said he and Blessinger often go to movies together, especially to see his favorite films, which star comedian Jim Carrey.

OT Buddies has chapters in 55 schools, including 26 colleges, throughout Pennsylvania. In Lancaster County, this includes Millersville and Elizabethtown.

The program is "76 percent funded" by government money, said state president Matthew Stehl, but he is looking to "diversify" and is seeking more corporate, foundation and private sources.

Those wishing to contribute, students wishing to volunteer or perhaps expand OT Buddies to their schools, or those wishing to link a family member to a new friend, can contact the organization at lemonparty.org.


I don't have the heart to post the pictures.